Seattle’s FF needs to do some soul searching | New recordings

FF, ‘Lord’ (Couple Skate)

Seattle’s FF plays fast-paced, fuzzed-out guitar rock stripped to its melodic core — the kind you’d be thrilled to happen upon at a basement show.

The issue with the trio’s debut “Lord,” though, is that anyone with even a cursory knowledge of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth has heard these songs before. Tremolo-bending opener “Dead Head” doesn’t just conjure vintage MBV — it sounds like a cover. So does the coolly detached SY homage “It’s Alright.”

And while you may not know the Olympia group Gun Outfit — though if you don’t, you should — B-sides “Past Year” and “Come to Pass” appropriate their jangly, cascading riffs, high-energy drumming and alluring boy-girl vocal dynamic.

This isn’t to say “Lord” is without merit. The mid-fi production suits the material well, and certain tracks, namely “Caught in a Dream,” show strong pop sensibilities.

For a band’s first album to represent the sum of its influences isn’t uncommon. Now that we know what FF likes, however, next time it’d be nice to get more insight into who they actually are.

About us

Seattle Times music coordinator Paul de Barros has written about jazz and pop music for the paper since 1982 and is the author of “Jackson Street After Hours: The Roots of Jazz in Seattle.” On Twitter @pdebarros.

Andrew Matson is a freelance writer and close follower of the Seattle pop music scene – especially the genres of rap, rock and electronic. On Twitter @andrewmatson.

Seattle native Gene Stout has been writing about popular music for more than two decades and has interviewed and profiled many of Seattle’s best-known musicians. On Twitter @popmusiccritic.

Charles R. Cross is a Seattle-based writer who has authored eight books, including the bestselling biography of Kurt Cobain, "Heavier Than Heaven." On Twitter @Charlesrcross.

Charlie Zaillian served as music director of Olympia’s influential KAOS-FM, has a particular affection for punk rock and has freelanced for The Seattle Times since 2011. On Twitter @czaillian

Owen R. Smith is a freelance journalist and music writer, country music aficionado, erstwhile sportswriter and one-time novelist. On Twitter @inanedetails.

Gillian G. Gaar has written extensively about music and popular culture and is the author of several books. On Twitter @GillianGaar.

Mike Ramos is a Seattle native and freelance writer who has followed rap music since the early '90s and can sometimes be heard DJing on KEXP FM. On Twitter: @RAM0S206.

Andrew Gospe is a freelance writer and electronic musician who's called Seattle home since 2009. On Twitter: @gospea.